Evening, January 29
Go To Morning Reading
“The dove came in to him in the evening.”
Genesis 8:11
Blessed be the Lord for another day of mercy, even though I am now
weary with its toils. Unto the preserver of men lift I my song of
gratitude. The dove found no rest out of the ark, and therefore returned
to it; and my soul has learned yet more fully than ever, this day,
that there is no satisfaction to be found in earthly things—God alone can give rest to my spirit. As to my business, my possessions,
my family, my attainments, these are all well enough in their way,
but they cannot fulfil the desires of my immortal nature. “Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully
with thee.” It was at the still hour, when the gates of the day were closing,
that with weary wing the dove came back to the master: O Lord, enable
me this evening thus to return to Jesus. She could not endure to spend
a night hovering over the restless waste, nor can I bear to be even
for another hour away from Jesus, the rest of my heart, the home of
my spirit. She did not merely alight upon the roof of the ark, she
“came in to him;” even so would my longing spirit look into the secret of the Lord,
pierce to the interior of truth, enter into that which is within the
veil, and reach to my Beloved in very deed. To Jesus must I come:
short of the nearest and dearest intercourse with him my panting spirit
cannot stay. Blessed Lord Jesus, be with me, reveal thyself, and abide
with me all night, so that when I awake I may be still with thee.
I note that the dove brought in her mouth an olive branch plucked
off, the memorial of the past day, and a prophecy of the future. Have
I no pleasing record to bring home? No pledge and earnest of lovingkindness
yet to come? Yes, my Lord, I present thee my grateful acknowledgments
for tender mercies which have been new every morning and fresh every
evening; and now, I pray thee, put forth thy hand and take thy dove
into thy bosom.